These include Space Situational Awareness (SSA) such as collision avoidance, debris monitoring, nuclear detection and still imagery; and data collection for hyper-spectral sounding, ocean color analysis, ozone mapping, and weather tracking; as well as communications; and research and development.
Hosted Payload's also allow the government a way to reduce many risks when it comes to program funding, launch delays and operational concerns.
Hosted Payloads is a potential answer to meet the demand of satellites through their ability to provide rapid and dependable access into space.
The Internet Routing in Space (IRIS) program, according to Intelsat, its provider of fixed satellites, was a "technology demonstrator" hosted payload.
According to Intelsat's press release and Steve Boutelle, Vice President, Cisco Systems Global Government Solutions Group, the IRIS payload supports network services for voice, video and data communications, enabling U.S. military units and allied forces to communicate with one another using Internet Protocol (IP) and existing ground equipment.
In January 2010, Cisco completed the first-ever software upgrade of an IP router aboard a commercial satellite while in orbit.
In April 2009, Intelsat announced an expansion agreement for hosted payload services with the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
According to the Office of Space Commerce, NAIS is designed to enhance the current Automatic Identification System (AIS), which monitors vessel traffic for maritime domain awareness.
The payload is testing the feasibility and effectiveness of AIS message reception and reporting from space for ship tracking and other navigational activities.
According to the Office of Space Commerce, it would cost approximately $500 million to launch a dedicated free flyer to satisfy 100% of the technical questions associated with the experiment.